The Marvel universe is brimming with powerful, Hulk-esque characters, and now, Starbrand joins the fray in Marvel Snap. This guide explores the best Starbrand decks currently available.
Jump To:
- How Starbrand Works in Marvel Snap
- Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
- Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
How Starbrand Works in Marvel Snap
Starbrand is a 3-cost, 10-power card with the ability: “Ongoing: Your opponent has +3 Power at each other location.” Unlike Mister Fantastic, this effect isn't limited to adjacent locations; Starbrand grants power to every location he's not in. Consequently, decks utilizing Starbrand often incorporate cards like Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress to mitigate this drawback. While Shang-Chi hard counters him, Starbrand synergizes exceptionally well with Surtur. However, his 3-cost placement can make him tricky to integrate into existing decks, often competing with Surtur or Sauron for the same slot.
Best Day One Starbrand Decks in Marvel Snap
Starbrand fits seamlessly into a couple of established deck archetypes: Shuri Sauron and Surtur. Let's examine how he impacts these strategies:
Shuri Sauron Deck
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Lizard
- Sauron
- Starbrand
- Shuri
- Ares
- Enchantress
- Typhoid Mary
- Red Skull
- Taskmaster
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This budget-friendly deck (only Ares is a Series 5 card, easily replaceable with Vision) leverages Zabu's ability effectively. The strategy is straightforward: neutralize the negative effects of Ongoing cards with Zero, Sauron, and Enchantress; boost a lane with Shuri into a high-power card like Red Skull; and finally, copy that power with Taskmaster. While traditionally using Ebony Maw, Zabu's inclusion allows for more flexible late-game plays with Shuri, Starbrand, or Ares, creating surprising power spikes. Starbrand's opponent power buff is less impactful given the high power plays in this deck. Enchantress can still counter opponent Ongoing cards.
Surtur Deck
- Zabu
- Zero
- Armor
- Sam Wilson
- Captain America
- Cosmo
- Surtur
- Starbrand
- Ares
- Attuma
- Crossbones
- Cull Obsidian
- Skaar
Click here to copy this list from Untapped.
This deck is more expensive, featuring four Series 5 cards. Sam Wilson and Cull Obsidian create synergy, while Surtur and Ares are crucial components. Starbrand allows for a reduced cost Skaar by playing him alongside Ares, Attuma, or Crossbones on turns 4 and 5. Zero mitigates the drawbacks of Starbrand and Attuma, but even without perfect synergy, he's a strong final-turn play. The challenge lies in the optimal timing of Starbrand, ideally alongside Zero and Skaar for maximum impact, which may require some experimentation.
Should You Use Spotlight Cache Keys or Collector’s Tokens on Starbrand?
Starbrand's viability is uncertain, given the recent meta shifts with Agamotto and Eson. The effectiveness of Shuri Sauron and Surtur decks remains to be seen. Consider waiting to see how the meta evolves before investing resources in Starbrand.
Marvel Snap is available now.
